Mentor Fire Chief Named Ohio Firefighter Of The Year By Ohio VFW

Mentor Fire Chief Richard Harvey has been in fire service a long time -- perhaps longer than he cares to be reminded.

And now the Ohio VFW has thanked him for his decades of service and by naming him the 2012 Ohio firefighter of the year.

The award comes with a $300 donation toward the charity of Harvey's choice. He selected the . The money will help the firefighters create an educational DVD about sudden infant death syndrome.

"I was very surprised, very humbled by it," Harvey said. "I did not know that I was nominated for it. They did a good job of sneaking around behind my back," he joked.

Harvey began as a volunteer firefighter 46 years ago, became a full-time firefighter in 1974 for the and rose through the ranks to become a battallion chief before leaving the department to be Kirtland's fire chief.

However, he returned to Mentor in 2001 as fire chief and has remained here for more than a decade.

"He's committed so much of his life to others and I'm happy for him," Deputy Chief Robert Searles said. "I think he truly deserves the recognition."

Searles added that Harvey's experience is just one of the assets he provides.

"What he brings to the table is his compassion and his kindness and his desire to serve," Searles said. "I don't know how many people really understand how hard he works. It's not a 9-to-5 job for him."

Before joining the Mentor Fire Department, Harvey served in the U.S. Army as a firefighter, training officer and crash rescue crew chief; so being a veteran makes this recognition all the sweeter.

"This award is very special to me because it's from the veterans," he said, adding that veterans have had a profound influence on his career.

"They are very special people and they do so much to support our community, our service people -- both past and present -- our schools and our safety forces," he said.

Harvey was nominated for the award by the VFW George E. Hayward Post 9295 in Mentor and its .

Harvey will also be recognized by Mentor City Council and administration during the Council's meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday at .